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Dominica Botanic Gardens
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Selected Trees and Shrubs
Sterculia alata, Syn:  Pterygota alata, Common name: Buddha Coconut


Plant Family: Belongs to the Sterculiaceae or Cacao family, which includes Cocoa (Theobroma cacao), Cola Nut (Cola acuminata) and Mahaut Doux (Sterculia caribaea), also referred to as Mahaut Cochon, a dominant tree in the Dominican rainforest.

Description: Tall, erect trees, up to 30 m (100 ft), bark gray; before 1979’s Hurricane David took it down, this was tallest tree in Gardens; had erect, buttressed stem where little children played “hide and seek”; now replaced by young specimen in same location - close to road west of Forestry office; leaves 3-lobed and glabrous, up to 30 cm wide (12 in); fruit globular, light brown, with tough, woody shell, about 10 cm across (4 in); seeds numerous, large, each with long, wide wing; dry, ripe fruit split open, releasing winged seeds from cup-like shell; seeds flat, square-to-oblong, about 2 cm (0.8 in) without wing, wing about 4-6 cm long (1.6-2.3 in); fruiting in dry season (February-March).

Natural Habitat: Moist, deciduous forest.

Origin and Distribution: Native to India, and found variously in S.E. Asia.

Uses: In India, seeds eaten, and plant used medicinally.

Indigenous Legends: Common name in India is Buddha Coconut.
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References:
Robert A. DeFilipps. Useful Plants of the Commonwealth of Dominica, West Indies. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 1998
Plants of India. Ashoka Trust Research in Ecology and Environment, Bangalore, India n.d. (plantsindia.org)
Anon. [Joseph Jones?] Official Guide to the Botanic Gardens, Dominica. Kew Gardens, London, 1924?
Dominica Forestry & Wildlife Division. Dominica's Botanic Gardens: A Guide to Selected Trees and Shrubs, Ministry of Agriculture, Dominica 1988
Jack Charest and Penny N. Honychurch. A General Guide to the Botanic Gardens of Dominica. Ministry of Agriculture, Dominica 1977.
​​Gardens Introduction

​

Preface - How it Began
Introduction to Website
A Brief History
Plan of Gardens 
Contemporary Commentary​
​Trees, Shrubs, Birds

​
​
Selected Trees and Shrubs
Medicinal Plants
​
Gardens Activities
  Florida's Fairchild Garden
Parrot/Animal Sanctuary
Birds of the Gardens
Garden Views

​
​
Three Virtual Tours
Panoramic Views Today
Early Panoramic Views
 
Hurricane David's Ravages
Future Developments
Curators/Administrators
Reports and Documents
  
Getting Involved
Related Links
Sub-sites

​

Honorees
Island Scholars
Cabinet Photos
​​Treasures of the Cathedral

​Diaspora Policy Paper
​

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Copyright © -  Davison Shillingford, Clayton Shillingford and (the late) Raglan Riviere